Page 129 of Fakers with Benefits

“Did we forget to eat again?” Gray asked.

“Um.”

“Wait here.” Gray patted my ass and did a running flip off the stage.

“Showoff!” I groused.

He flipped me off with one hand and dug through his bag with the other.

“Can you guys maybe back me up here?” Blaze glared at Knox and Kai, who were standing back from the crowd and watching us with amused grins.

“We could,” Knox said.

“But it’s way more fun to watch you try to wrangle them. Like herding cats, isn’t it?” Kai chuckled.

“Like dealing with a herd of labradoodles on crack,” Blaze countered.

“Wouldn’t a herd of labradoodles be considered a pack?” I asked.

“Are all groups of dogs considered packs?” Dash asked. “That’s not very imaginative.”

“Here.” Gray came up beside me and shoved a small container in my hands. “Eat these so you don’t drop dead on us.”

“What is it?” I tore the top off and peeked inside. “Cookies! Yay.” I shoved one of the cookies with rainbow chocolate chips into my mouth. “Sooooo good,” I moaned around the food. “Thanks, babes. You’re the bestest.”

“Speaking of labradoodles.” Kai grinned at me. “You look like a puppy who’s just been given a stack of his favorite biscuits.”

“Don’t be hating my golden retriever energy just ’cause you’re a German shepherd.” I stuffed another cookie in my mouth. “And just for that, no cookie for you,” I said with my mouth full.

“So classy.” Gray stole a cookie and gently hip-checked me. “But we’d better focus on rehearsal before Blaze has an aneurysm.”

“Sorry.” I turned to Blaze, who looked like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or cry. “You were being a master tasker?”

“Close enough,” he muttered. “Did anyone think of anything they wanted to add to the routine we’ve been working on?”

“We should let the flippy twins do some of their tricks for the finale,” I suggested. “Give them the spotlight. That way we can still use the routine with Stone or any other headliner and only have to change our final marks. Hey. No backsies.” I snatched the cookie Gray had swiped out of my hand.

“I made them.” He stole it back.

“And I claimed them.” I caught his wrist and yanked it closer. “Mine.” Leaning over his arm, I licked the length of the cookie.

“You really think that’s gonna stop me? Newsflash, I swallow.” Gray winked.

Blaze threw his hands up in exasperation. “I’m done.”

I snatched the cookie out of Gray’s hand as he went to take a bite and shoved it into my mouth. “Stop misbehaving. You’re making Blaze stroke out.”

“Cookie me.” River held up his hand.

I tossed him the second-to-last one. “Anyone else who isn’t Gray want the last one?” I wiggled the container.

Zane’s hand flew up.

I flipped the cookie out of the shallow container toward him. My aim was off, and River plucked it out of the air. Casually, he flipped it up like a coin. It spun in a high arc and fell right into Zane’s open mouth.

“Labradoodles for the win!”

Gray elbowed me.

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